Happy Thursday Everyone!!!! Today, after work, Olivia and I are going shopping for my 9 year old grandson's birthday, and maybe have Chinese for dinner. Todd and David are going to see "RUSH" in Milwaukee, so it will be just us girls. Holly has some good news, everyone keep her in their thoughts that it continues to go their way. Patty's project is FINALLY done!!!! Donna and Felicia are vacationing, hope they are having fun and getting some well-deserved rest! Aimee had and endoscopy today---keep her in our thoughts for good news! What's going on in your corner of the world?? Dawn

Hooray! Raven is home for a week!! I'm so sorry your family is going through this, but it sounds as if Dan is doing everything right... Staying calm and jumping through the hoops. (On the other hand, annoying a judge is NOT a good way for Jen to start this whole process) Enjoy Raven this week. I'll keep you and yours in my prayers.

Good morning, Yesterday was rather interesting. We weren't really sure what to expect. Dan's attorney said she was going to get him some visitation, but she wasn't sure when...etc...she knew that Jen's attorney had suggested 50/50 custody, which Dan was thrilled with but we weren't sure when it was going to happen. They went in front of the judge and Dan's attorney said they hadn't reached an agreement yet on some things but felt that they could within the next week or so. Then she said she wanted Dan to have some visitation and the judge said ok, can he have her today? Jen said no because they had some "property" that needed to be taken care of first...the judge looked at her and said, I don't understand what property has to do with the welfare of this child..." Jen didn't say anything and after a few moments the judge looked at her and said, If he doesn't get her today I will grant him full custody immediately. So, DAN HAS RAVEN FOR THE NEXT WEEK!!! We were not prepared to have her so my husband had to run home and get her car seat! Dan is not to have any contact with Jen in any way except in the exchange of RAven each week or he could face 6 months in jail and a thousand dollar fine. WE have already arranged it so that he won't even have to see Jen when he returns/picks up Raven...someone else is going to do it for him. I think he feels like yesterday was a mini victory for him...Jen was PISSED!!!!! She was not prepared at all to hand Raven over to him....I think she thought Dan wouldn't get any custody at all because of the PFA but she was wrong...Dan is filing for divorce through this attorney this week....Jen will be PISSED again when she gets the papers....I hate seeing my son go through this...it is so sad....and you can see it in his face....but he told me he can't live this like....he said if he were to take her back, everytime she would get mad at him this is what she would do....We go back to court next Wednesday to see if they can settle the property that belongs to him and what belongs to her....thank you for your kind thoughts and encouraging words...it's a long road ahead of us, but I know we will survive! Holly

Thank goodness it is Thursday. I couldn't live through Tuesday or Wednesday again. they have just been stress laden with the onset of school opening and getting back to business for most of the special education offices. Sigh... Today is my Friday as I am taking tomorrow off. I am having a repeat endoscopy in the morning so I get to come home and sleep off the "drugs". I am hoping they find that the damage to my esophagus has repaired since surgery. We shall see. Well, I planted a seed of an idea in my mom last night. As I expected, she backed out of leaving the mountains. She really cannot spend another winter up there alone. We had learned that an old friend does do Elder Sitting and I spoke with her. She is willing to work with mom. Now the seed that needs to sprout is for my mother to allow this. I hope I got through to her a little last night. I tried hard not to badger or bully her as my siblings tend to do. I did tell her that I want her to be able to weigh her options and to make an informed decision. She had been getting nasty up to the point I made that statement. I also spoke to her about making arrangements for our little family reunion taking place next week in New Jersey. She panics with good reason about her oxygen availability when she travels. I talked it through to her and I think we came up with a good plan. She needs to call to have oxygen available at the hotel and then to have them also deliver some small tanks for when we are away from the hotel. She was complaining about having to carry so many tanks. I talked to her about what she may really need and how many in case tanks she might bring. I think this helped her a lot. My youngest son stopped over last night. He had just dropped his room mate off at BWI and then made a mad dash trip back to bring some essential items he had forgotten. His room mate is on his way to Iraq. He is expected to be there about 2 months on an Air Force base. Geoff was visibly shaken by this and just needed some Mom time. I almost had him convinced to take his dog with him. Oh well! I hope everyone is doing well and staying well. Keep up with the protein and with the fluids!! Now if someone can motivate me to exercise.

Congrats, Aime! Great stuff! Lisa